Unitized protected label assembly



I Sept; 27, 1960 HEUSER 2,953,865

UNITIZED PROTECTED LABEL. ASSEMBLY I Filed ma 22, 1959 v INVENTOR ELLIOTT e. HEUSER y PM ATTORNEY Uflitt? UNITIZED PROTECTED LABEL ASSEMBLY Filed May 22, 1959, Ser. No. 815,169

2 Claims. Cl. 40-2) The present invention relates to labels having a protective transparent shield 01' cover, and particularly to a unitized assembly of component parts arranged for application of indicia to a label sheet and subsequent adhesive attachment to an object to be labeled.

Labels adapted for the same general purposes as the present label have been provided in the past with a label sheet and a transparent shield therefor, each having a separate release liner and being joined with one another in side-by-side relationship by means of a narrow separable bridge portion common to both the label and cover. separable parts. Inasmuch as the labels are very often prepared by means of typing, or may be otherwise subjected to rough handling, it will also be apparent that the narrow bridge portion connecting the two members afforded a major point of weakness. When the transparent cover is overlapped on the label, this narrow bridge also permitted an exposed non-adhesive area. The non-adhesive area is obvious and spoils the appearance of the applied product. It also permits oil, dirt, water or grease to partially enter the label.

The second weakness of the previous assemblies lies in the difiiculty in accurately laying the hinged top clear cover portion over the white label portion. Some misalignment is bound to occur, primarily due to the fact that movement of the top portion is restricted by the narrow bridging portion of the label.

One means for circumventing the above-mentioned disadvantages would be in the provision of a label assembly having two separate pieces-namely a label and an oversized transparent protective covering. However, two separate labels have the disadvantage of inconvenience, possibility of loss, separate packaging, etc.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a unitized label assembly comprising a label adapted for receiving indicia on one side thereof and having the opposite side coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive and being temporarily releasably applied to a liner which has both sides thereof either coated with a release composition or which is of a material having release characteristics, and which assembly further comprises, at the opposite side of the liner, a transparent protective cover including a pressure sensitive adhesive coating on one side thereof in contact with the sai-d'liner.

This arrangement also eliminates one liner member, as

both the label and the cover are mounted at each side of a single liner member in back-and-back relationship. The label is removed from the liner and applied to the object to be labeled, and the protection cover is then applied over the indicia bearing label surface, preferably overlapping the edges to protect both label and indicia from the elements, dirt and other contaminants.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a unitized label assembly wherein the entire label surface will be covered by a transparent protective covering extending beyond the label throughout its entire peripheral margin.

States Patent to an object to be labeled thereby;

This arrangement required a multiplicity .of v

A further object of the present invention is to provide a unitized label assembly which may be manufactured in strip or sheet form, and which may be inserted'in a typewriter as a unit for application of indicia to the label member with. no opportunity. for a protective cover member or any other portions to become separated therefrom until immediately prior to application thereof to an object bearing the label. f

A still further object of the present invention lies in the provision of means for ease in removal of both a label sheet and a protective cover sheet, each being adhesively attached to opposite sides of a common liner member having either adhesive release coated surfaces or being of an inherently releasablematerial.

With reference to the appended drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a strip of separably attached, unitized label assemblies. made in accordance with'the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of blies removed from the strip and ready the label assem for application Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a label assembly illustrating a convenient means for removing the label sheet from the assembly;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an object with the label sheet applied thereto immediately prior to application of'the protective cover;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrative of the remain-' ing portions of the label assembly with the label sheet removed and applied as shown in Fig. 4, and with liner portions being folded back in the process of preparing the protective covering for application to the previously mounted label sheet; V

Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the assembly as applied to the labeled object and with the transparent protective cover applied to the indicia-bearing label sheet;

Fig. 7 is a cross'sectional view taken on line.77 of Fig. 6.

- The unitizedlabel assembly, indicated generally by, the reference numeral 10, maybe supplied in strip form, as shown in Fig; l, with each of the assemblies '10 at tached to one another by means of easily separable perforations 11, or by scoring or other known means. Such arrangement permits ease in insertion in a typewriter for application of indicia 12 to the label surface. It will be apparent that each assembly may be sold in separate form or in sheet form if so desired. The label sheet may also have indicia printed thereon for direct application to an object or may bear printed indicia and provide a'space for typing as with labels used by druggists, chemists and others who need indicia protected from the elements or from spilled liquids and the like.

As shown in Figs. 1, and 2, each labelassembly 10@ during shipping, handling and insertion and removal from a typewriter. The entire construction stays together as a single piece, and even if it should become removed from the strip or roll, all of the necessary components will be retained to one another until immediately prior to application thereof to an object to be labeled.

It is also to be noted that a preferred embodiment of the assembly 10 includes a liner member 14 having a weakened portion in the form of scoring, perforating or Patented Sept. 27, 1960 a starting slit 16 intermediate its ends as an aid in removal of both the label sheet '13 and the protective cover 15, as will hereinafter be explained. The slit or scoring may extend transversely from side to side or partially; at least, inwardly of the respective peripheral margins of the sheet 13 and the cover 15. a

As shown in Fig. 3, the assembly may be grasped between the thumb and forefinger of each hand (not shown) at either side of the slit 16, with one portion being raised along with the label sheet 13 to provide a means for inserting the fingernail or finger to remove-the label sheet 13 therefrom. The label sheet 13 includes a pressure sensitive adhesive layer 17 on the reverse side thereof, whereas the liner 14 is provided with a release coating 18 on opposite surfaces thereof. 'In certain instances, the surfaces may not be separately coated, but may be of inherently adhesive release characteristic as an integral part of the liner 14 itself, such as in the case of using Milar or other plastic materials having surfaces which may be easily released from a pressure-sensitive adhesive coated member.

The protective cover 15 also includes an'adhesive coating 19 on the underside thereof, and in initial contact with the adhesive release surface of the liner 14.

Thus, after application of the indicia to the label sheet 13, the sheet is removed from the unitized assembly by grasping the liner 14 between the forefinger and thumb of each hand at opposite sides of the slit or scoring 16 to withdraw the portions away from one another and raise the label sheets slightly away from the release surface of the liner 14. The sheet 13 may then be easily removed from the liner 14, and applied to the object 20, as shown in Fig. 4.

The liner 14 is then peeled from the adhesive coated surface 19 of the transparent protective cover 15, as shown in Fig. 5, and the protective cover is then applied directly over the label sheet 13, for full protection of the label as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. It is to be noted that the protective cover sheet 15 of the present embodiment is preferably of greater area in all respects than the area of the label sheet 13 to provide a marginal overlap portion 21 for full protection of the entire label periphery. Thus, the label sheet 13 will be protected in its entirety from contact with the elements, spilled liquid, or from finger marks during handling of labeled files and the like. It is obvious that the protective cover 15, or the label sheet 13, or both may be of varying colors for added filing identification.

It will thus be apparent that the present invention has provided an improved unitized label assembly, wherein the entire assembly may be kept together as a unit at all times without danger of losing separable portions thereof and with the added improvement of providing a transparent protective cover portion which provides full protection to the label sheet by overlapping its entire peripheral margin.

I claim:

1. A unitized protected label assembly, comprising a label sheet adapted to receive indicia on the front side thereof and having a pressure sensitive adhesive coating on the reverse side thereof, a transparent protective cover sheet having a pressure sensitive adhesive coating on one side thereof and a removable liner sheet disposed between said label sheet and said protective cover and having adhesive release surfaces on opposite sides thereof and being in releasable adhesive contact with the respective adhesive coated side of said label sheet and cover, said liner sheet including means intermediate its ends for separating the same into two portions to permit access to the inner surface of said label sheet and said protective cover for ease in removal from said liner.

2. A unitized protected label assembly, comprising a label sheet adapted to receive indicia on the front side thereof and having a pressure sensitive adhesive coating on the reverse side thereof, a transparent protective cover sheet having a pressure sensitive adhesive coating on one side thereof and a removable liner sheet disposed between said label sheet and said protective cover and having adhesive release surfaces on opposite sides thereof and being in releasable adhesive contact with the respective adhesive coated side of said label sheet and cover, said liner having a slit intermediate its ends, said slit extending'at least partially inwardly of the peripheral margins of said label sheet and said protective cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

